BVI News

Cindy Cuts Deep! Where’s Access To Information Act?

Cindy Rosan-Jones

As the BVI continues to reel from the announcement of the upcoming Commission of Inquiry (COI), outspoken host of the Cut Deep talkshow Cindy Rosan-Jones has asked why the government hasn’t implemented the Access to Information Act to date.

“Good governance legislation needs to be on the table, in particular Freedom of Information legislation. Why has it been so difficult to bring this legislation to the fore? The people have demanded it, you work for the people, what is the problem?” Rosan said on a recent episode of her Cut Deep talk show.

She said the lack of laws such as the Access to Information Act and the Whistleblower’s legislation is the reason Virgin Islanders constantly run to the Governor’s Office for oversight and reprieve.

The Access to Information Act is seen as a powerful weapon in democratic countries.

Through this piece of legislation, persons can access public records and hold governments accountable. The law would also facilitate the establishment of a Freedom of Information Unit to provide the public with ‘the appropriate administrative mechanism to make and receive requests’.

The Act has been a constant fixture in the Speech from the Throne in the last few years, yet no concrete move has been made to implement it.

After the NDP administration failed to implement the law, then Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie had promised to have it implemented if he were to be elected to office.

However, there was no mention of the Act in last year’s Speech from the Throne that set out the government’s legislative agenda for the upcoming year.

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11 Comments

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  1. Yessah says:

    Keep the pressure on them Cindy.

    Like 37
    Dislike 3
  2. Freedom says:

    You cannot have Freedom of Information and corruption at the same time. One or the other has to go. Some politicians prefer corruption so they can line their pockets and those of family and cronies. Thus, in the BVI all deals are done behind closed doors and it’s no ones business except the ones stealing. If this wasn’t the reason the law would have been enacted and there would be no COI. Now there will be both. Yippie and hurrah for honest governance.

    Like 41
  3. Broken Nails says:

    … Up and down talking piddle

    Like 4
    Dislike 22
  4. Rubber Duck says:

    Not only do we not know who has his hand in the cookie jar, we don’t even know where the jar is, what it looks like or who is supposed to be guarding it.

    Something rotten in the state of BVI.

    Like 36
  5. @BROKEN NAILS says:

    FIRST I MUST SAY, YOU ARE ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS GOING TO BE STANDING WITH YOUR TAIL TUCK TIGHT BETWEEN YOUR LEGS. THERE IS NO HOPE FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I PITY YOU. GIRL CINDY, KEEP THE PRESSURE ON LIKE PIPING HOT GRITS. ❤️ AND ADMIRE YOU. NO DISRESPECT BUT GIRL CINDY YOU HAVE THE MOST GORGEOUS LEGS AND BEAUTIFUL FACUAL BONE STRUCTURE.

    Like 4
    Dislike 5
  6. What!!!’ says:

    Freedom of information, I would like to know from the VIP how much they are paying the lawyer they have employed even before any findings of wrong doing have been made.It is our tax money being used , tell us how much it is costing us I have heard some huge figures mentioned.

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
    • @What!!! says:

      If you have a problem paying for these things with your tax dollars you can always go home and contribute your tax dollars to your government’s initiatives.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Why is this news.

    Like 8
    Dislike 3
  8. yea says:

    As I observe all this noise and finger pointing one thing comes to my mind, evil thinks as evil does.

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